Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI
Who knew Lance Berkman had such a big mouth? First it was his feelings on the Cardinals — that he hated them (but in a good way) while he was on the Astros, and that he hates the Cubs: “I’m not sure I can work up any more animosity for the Cubs than I already have.”
Thursday, on a Houston radio station, he talked about the Texas Rangers and why he didn’t sign and stay within his home state this season.
According to ESPN, he said: “I felt like if they didn’t re-sign Cliff Lee that they were going to be an average team and I feel that’s probably what’s going to end up happening. It’s all about your pitching. I feel like last year was one of those special years where you kind of catch lightning in a bottle and they got hot and they had some guys that I felt like were pitching better than their talent level and consequently they had a great year.”
If I were a Rangers fan, I wouldn’t be happy, although maybe I’d just shrug it off like C.J. Wilson did in that ESPN article. But it seems refreshing to read/hear a player admit his honest rationale in choosing where to sign. Now, granted, we’ve heard plenty of honesty from professional athletes in the past week in light of the Jay Cutler’s injury in the NFC Championship game last Sunday, so maybe I shouldn’t appreciate it quite so much when we learn that athletes spout off no differently than we do when watching the game on the couch. But this is just a guy saying what he thinks about why he chose to become a Cardinal.
Maybe he’s always said what he thinks — I don’t know, I didn’t like him as an Astro because he always kills against the Cards. But I certainly like him now, and that admiration is growing daily. And I’m glad he’s on our side.
As long as the dude can hit, and doesn’t fall down too many times chasing after doubles in the right-field corner, he can talk as much smack as he wants.
He plays like a more expensive version of Chris Duncan, though, and he probably should keep quiet.
I have confidence in him. (Maybe I’m just blinded by my new-found appreciation of his looks.) But I do think he’s going to have a bounceback season. Just seems like he wants it, with losing weight and working out and bashing the Cubs.
But no matter what, he will always be better looking than Chris Duncan. (Sorry, Chris.) And, when the occasion arises, Lance will know the proper way to handle a World Series trophy.